That’s quite a splash! Daring zookeeper dives into swimming pool followed by 450lb tiger for thrilling show

By Emma Clark


..A brave zookeeper has taken a real leap of faith - into a swimming pool with a fearsome tiger.

Daring Jeff Harwell, 30, dived into the water closely followed by 450lb Bengal tiger Akasha to the astonishment of visitors.

The pair amazed crowds with their ‘romping and splashing’ in the 50ft pool at Out of Africa Wildlife Park at Camp Verde in Arizona, United States.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Jeff Harwell shows no fear as he dives into the swimming pool with eager Akasha preparing to follow him

Crowds hold their breath behind the safety of a wired fence as the zookeeper leaps through the air

The Tiger Splash show is a firm favourite at the wildlife theme park, exhibiting the natural and spontaneous behaviour of tigers as well as unique interaction with humans.

Throughout the thrilling display the zookeeper and his assistants use giant balloons and inflatables to playfully tease the tigers, encouraging them to jump into the water – seemingly unnerved about any potential danger.

Photographer Kathleen Reeder, 55, snapped the Tiger Splash Show from a safe spot behind a wired fence.

The 450lb fully-grown Bengal tiger begins his own leap, keen to follow his keeper

Akasha keeps his gaze on the feet of Mr Harwell who has to blindly trust the tiger as he enters the water

With all four paws off the ground, the giant playful cat can't wait to begin the game

She said: ‘I loved watching the tigers and their interactions with the staff because they have a very special bond.

‘The show features Bengal and Siberian tigers interacting in a predator-prey relationship of romping and splashing.

The weight and strength of the tiger can be seen as he jumps through the air while his playmate is completely submerged

Akasha tightly closes his eyes as he causes a massive splash in the pool to the delight of the spectators

‘It is unique, thrilling, and exciting.

‘The crowds “oooh” and “aaah” as the tigers play with their caretakers and various colourful toys.’

Mr Hawrwell has worked at the zoo - and with 12 year old Akasha - for five years putting on the unique half-hour show seven days a week.

VIDEO: Watch the promo from Out of Africa Wildlife Park...




source:dailymail

Heartwarming pictures of the baby monkey which made friends with a TIGER

By Rebecca Seales


To our eyes they look like unlikely playmates, but no-one seems to have told this baby macaque not to monkey around with tigers.

Pictured at the Hefei Wild Zoo in China’s Anhui province, the tiny rhesus monkey, named Taoqi, was perfectly at ease as he rolled around with the big-cat-to-be.

Still at the fluffy stage, the blue-eyed tiger cub was happy to snuggle with its smaller friend.

Give us a cuddle: Baby rhesus macaque Taoqi cosies up to a young tiger cub at a zoo in Hefei, China

One shot shows cheeky Taoqi climbing over the cub's back, while in another he fearlessly bats at the tiger's face.

A quick look at the cub's open mouth reveals the budding teeth that characterise these hunting cats.

It's anyone's guess if their friendship will go the distance, but for the moment, the tiny predator is clearly feline good around his great ape.


Peekaboo: Taoqi peers fearlessly at the camera as he clings to the cub's back

Mind the teeth! The tiny tiger shows its budding fangs as its macaque friend goes in for a stroke

Although Taoqi lives in captivity in eastern China, rhesus monkeys are native to South, Central and Southeast Asia. They are venturesome creatures, and learn to swim at just a couple of days old.

Often happy to live alongside humans, many rhesus monkeys raid refuse for food, or rely on their neighbours for handouts.


source:dailymail

He's just a big pussycat: Meet the couple who share their South African home... with a 27-stone Bengal tiger

By Amy Oliver


Nice kitty: Michael Jamison and girlfriend Jackie Smit bottle feed their one-year-old pet Bengal tiger Enzo on the kitchen table at their home in Brakpan, South Africa

In many ways Enzo is just like any other house cat: he likes attention, loves sleeping and can't wait to get his claws into the furniture.

But this adorable one-year-old is no common moggy.

In fact, he's a 27-stone pet Bengal tiger who lives with Michael Jamison and his girlfriend Jackie Smit in Brakpan, South Africa.

Scroll down to watch Enzo at home

Big cat nap: Like any other cat Enzo enjoys sleeping... mostly on his mummy and daddy's bed

The couple share their home with the stripey diva - and 14 dogs.

They bought Enzo as a cute nine-week-old cub but a year later he has grown into a hulk after wolfing down 11lb of meat a day.

Mr Jamison, 37, said: 'Having Enzo is quite amazing. I can't compare it to anything else because every day is different.'


The dog ate it: But the cheeky tiger can be rather troublesome at times and has a penchant for chewing up furniture, especially sofas


Boys will be boys: Enzo does enjoy a bit of rough and tumble with Mr Jamison but getting body slammed by the 27-stone animal may not be quite as fun

Snooze: Miss Smit gets up close to Enzo as he does yet more dozing

As these hilarious pictures show Enzo is very much part of the family. He starts his day by running into the kitchen and leaping onto the kitchen table.

Then Mr Jamison or Miss Smit, 29, will bottle feed him milk. After that it's time for a nap, either on the couple's bed or on the handy chaise longue.

On waking Enzo might watch a spot of TV with Mr Jamison before the pair have a bit of rough and tumble, which the South African admits can get out of hand.


But I had a bath last year... Enzo tries to dodge getting wet in the couple's bathroom


Top cat: Enzo shares his home with no less than 14 pet dogs but it's clear who's the top cat

Now it's your turn: Enzo wolfs down his dinner... on top of the table

'Playing with a tiger can be really dangerous,' he said. 'If he gets you at the wrong place, even if he doesn't bite down, he can just scratch you with his teeth, you will bleed.

'That's one thing I've made peace with: every time I play with him I'm prepared to bleed a little bit.'

Then it's time for dinner. Enzo loves cat food, according to Mr Jamison but insists on gobbling it atop the kitchen table, which he really is too big for.


Counting sheep - or deer: Mr Jamison decides to let sleeping cats lie as he tucks into his dinner around Enzo


Snuggle: With one paw draped over Mr Jamison, Enzo sleeps soundly... next to the couple's bed


Pucker up: The tiger actually has his own bed slotted in next to the couple's own double, which shows signs of Enzo's handy work on the headboard


Chillax on the chaise: The youngster is good at relaxing and looks every inch the catinista on the couple's chaise longue

Put your foot in it: Mr Jamison play fights on the bed with little tyke Enzo who seems to have the upper paw

For all his tomfoolery, the big cat does have a naughty streak and a penchant for eating sofas.

He's too big for it now, but when the tiger was smaller he would also enjoy a day trip or two in the couple's yellow Lamborghini.

For now though, Enzo is happy to just be a very large house cat.


Night in front of the box: Mr Jamison treats Enzo to a little back scratch as the pair watch some TV


Day tripper: At four months Enzo could still fit in the couple's Lamborghini but it would be a bit of a squeeze now


Pay attention to me! Enzo makes sure no one can do any work by sitting in front of the computer


You're gonna need a bigger table: Mr Jamison feeds his tiger on the kitchen table




source:dailymail

Tiger fights plaque attack! Siberian big cat flosses on a nearby branch to stop his teeth decaying

By Simon Tomlinson


When you spend your life tearing through chunks of meat, you're bound to get a bit stuck between your teeth - not to mention the inevitable plaque build-up that follows.

But it's not a hygiene hazard that has escaped this Siberian tiger.

Showing off his impressive dental skills, he makes use of a handy branch to give his gnashers a good floss.

Banishing that bacteria: This Siberian shows he knows a thing or two about plaque prevention by using a branch to floss his teeth at Tiergarten Schnbrunn zoo in Austria

Doing so regularly can help prevent gum disease and gingivitis which can cause bad breath and tooth decay.

Photographer Jutta Kirchner, who captured the action in the big cat's enclosure at Tiergarten Schvnbrunn zoo, in Vienna, Austria, said: 'I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

'I've never seen an animal actively try to clean its teeth and I thought it was amazing.

'But I suppose they get things stuck in their teeth just like anyone else and find it just as irritating as the rest of us.'

Prancing on ice: Two of the zoo's Siberian tigers enjoy play time in the snow in another picture taken by Jutta Kirchner

Jutta has previously photographed Siberian tigers playing in the snow at the zoo.

The Siberian tiger lives mainly in the Sikhote Alin mountain region in east Russia.

In 2005, there were under 400 adult Siberian tigers left in the region, with an adult breeding population of about 250.

The population has been stable for more than a decade thanks to intensive conservation efforts.


source:dailymail

Saving the eye of the tiger: Battle to prevent rare white big cat from going blind

By Richard Hartley-parkinson


Vet Rob Lowe led a team of vets in trying to restore Zena's sight after she developed a cataract


This vet is well used to restoring the sight of dogs and horses, but never has he worked on a tiger before.

Roger Lowe was enlisted by the Isle of Wight Zoo, in Sandown, to remove a cataract from the one remaining eye of Zena, a rare white tiger.

The 15-year-old big cat with 'tomboyish tendencies', who is a star attraction at the zoo, lost her right eye to glaucoma six years ago. She faced total blindness and a life of finding her way round scent and sound.

Charlotte Corney, who hand-raised Zena, said she is glad to see the recovery the rare tiger is making


On Monday, however, she went under the surgeon's knife and is already back to her usual bouncy self.

People visiting the zoo will be able to see her splashing around in puddles or showing off for her fans.

Zoo owner Charlotte Corney said: 'I'm over the moon, couldn't be happier.'

Zena's profile on the Isle of Wight zoo website says she lives with her sister, Zia, who has a totally different character.

It says: 'Unlike her older sister Zia, Zena doesn't seem to understand the meaning of vanity. Zena has a real zest for life, which is evident from watching her humorous antics.

'Among other things, she has perfected the art of bouncing along on her hind legs while trying to bite the jet of water from a hosepipe.'


Back with her sister, Zia (right), the tiger is one of the star attractions at the Isle of Wight zoo



source:dailymail

Easy tiger! Moment huge beast tried to play pat-a-cake with a toddler (but don't worry, they're separated by glass)

By Daily Mail Reporter



Tender moment: Rather than banging against the glass, the tiger gently put its paw up to the little girl's hand


These breathtaking photographs capture the remarkable moments when a tiger bowed its head and placed a paw up to the hand of a small girl.

Photographer Dyrk Daniels noticed the 370lb Golden Bengal Tiger had taken an interest in the child, who was leaning against his glass enclosure.

As the tiger, called Taj, headed over to her, Mr Daniels got his camera ready, expecting him to snarl and bang against the glass.


But amazingly the tiger hung his head, stretched a paw out to her hand and rubbed his cheek against where the girl's face was.

Father-of-two Dyrk Daniels, 47, from Washington, America, went to Cougar Mountain Zoo to photograph the Bengal tigers.

When he got to the enclosure there were several children and families in the area, so he decided to let them see the tigers first before he tried to photograph them himself.

‘That is when I noticed this little girl was leaning against the glass with both hands out stretched staring at the ‘big kitties’,’ he said.


Gentle giant: As the tiger headed over to the glass partition towards the little girl, photographer Dyrk Daniels thought the big cat would snarl and frighten her


Bonding: The tiger put its face right down so the little girl could look it straight in the eye

‘I noticed that Taj had taken an interest in the girl and was heading towards her.

‘I thought for certain that the little girl would need therapy after the encounter and fear cats for the rest of her life.

‘I could not believe my eyes when Taj approached the girl, bowed his head and then placed his huge right paw exactly in front of where the little girl's left hand was.

‘It was incredible to watch. Taj let down his right paw, rubbed his cheek against the glass where the little girl's face was and moved off.’

Far from being scared, the little girl was so excited that she started clapping as she walked back afterwards towards her mother.

‘I have never seen such tenderness from such a large predator,’ Mr Daniels said.



source:dailymail

Tiny tiger triplet too timid to take a bow

-Trio born in August after father flown in especially from Germany
-There are only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world

By Oliver Pickup


Scroll down for a video of the triplets at Taronga Zoo

Scaredy cat: One of the two-month-old cubs hides in the foliage, away from the flashes of cameras at Taronga Zoo

If you went Down Under to this Australian zoo today, you would have been in for a triple surprise.

Because three extremely rare Sumatran tiger cubs were wowing both young and old visitors on their debut appearance at Taronga Zoo, in Sydney.

Two of the cute triplets were curious at all the human eyes tracked on them as they happily played beside their mother.

But one big scaredy cat was so timid it had to hide behind some foliage, away from the many camera flashes and excited children looking in to the enclosure.

With wide eyes the two-month-old cub wonders who on earth all the people taking photos are

Mummy's favourite: Two of the more curious cubs perch by their mother, under the gaze of the many viewers

The mother, Jumilah, took the attention in her stride, and perhaps her two-month-old cubs have been keeping her busy as at one point she produced a yawn which showed her huge mouth.

She gave birth to the two male and one female cubs on August 20, after mating with father Satu.

And the cubs will only be on show for short periods of time, as they tire very quickly for the moment, but as they age, they will spend more time on view in their enclosure.

Sumatran tigers can only be found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra - the only remaining stronghold for tigers in the country.

Experts estimate that there are just 400 such tigers left in the wild - and only 7 per cent of their original habitat remains, which is why these triplets are so important.

Sumatran tiger Jumilah enjoys a big yawn and shows all her teeth - her little ones are obviously tiring her out

Jumilah is seen playing with one of her cubs on display at Taronga Zoo


Here's licking at you, kid: Mother Jumilah is seen pruning one of the tiny cubs

Louise Ginman, carnivore supervisor at Taronga Zoo, said she was purring with delight that all three tigers are healthy and strong, after Satu had been flowing in from Europe to breed with Jumilah.

'Satu was brought to Taronga from Germany as part of the international zoo breeding program for Sumatran tigers to mate with our Taronga-born female Jumilah and introduce new genetics to our region,' she told Manly Daily.

'The female cub is really cheeky, with a lot of attitude and is the first one to check out new things.

'The boys are more cautious, but they’re growing in confidence and body size each day, now tipping the scales over 6kg each.'

Ms Ginman continued: 'There are only about 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, so to see them here at Taronga and know that they are part of a safety-net in case wild populations go extinct is pretty remarkable.'





source;dailymail

Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions

Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions, due to lack of space. Aalborg, Denmark. 30th September 2011



Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions, due to lack of space. Aalborg, Denmark. 30th September 2011



Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions, due to lack of space. Aalborg, Denmark. 30th September 2011


Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions, due to lack of space. Aalborg, Denmark. 30th September 2011



Aalborg Zoo will soon begin construction of new enclosure for the tigers and lions, due to lack of space. Aalborg, Denmark. 30th September 2011


source: daylife
photo: Reuters pictures

A new born quadruplet of Indochinese Tigers, look out of a box during their first presentation for public at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin.

A new born quadruplet of Indochinese Tigers (Panthera tigris corbetti) , also known as Corbett's tigers look out of a box during their first presentation for public at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The quadruplet was born on Sept. 10.



Zookeeper Petra Schroeder holds tiger cub Mandalay, one of a new born quadruplet of Indochinese Tigers (Panthera tigris corbetti), also known as Corbett's tiger, during their first presentation for public at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The quadruplet was born on Sept. 10.



Zookeeper Petra Schroeder holds tiger cub Mandalay, one of a new born quadruplet of Indochinese Tigers (Panthera tigris corbetti), also known as Corbett's tiger, during their first presentation for public at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The quadruplet was born on Sept. 10.



A new born quadruplet of Indochinese Tigers (Panthera tigris corbetti) , also known as Corbett's tigers look out of a box during their first presentation for public at the Tierpark zoo in Berlin, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The quadruplet was born on Sept. 10.


source: daylife
photo: AP photo